Police response: Deputy Commissioner speaks up

STILL PLANNING: Deputy Commissioner of Police Gary Worboys responds to local officers who have spoken out against proposed LAC mergers.

The NSW Deputy Commissioner Regional Field Operations Gary Worboys has spoken out after several officers from the Cootamundra Local Area Command spoke to the Young Witness.

“The re-engineering Taskforce is continuing to progress stakeholder consultation about the proposed structure of policing in regional NSW,” Mr Worboys said. “The framework is designing a District Command that will have better outcomes for both police and the community, including improved flexibility to deploy police to where and when they are needed, now and into the future.” According to the Deputy Commissioner he has been progressively visiting police stations meeting with officers and admin staff and speaking with various levels of government and locals in those towns.

“Today (Friday October 13) I have met with officers in Orange, Cowra and Young about the future model for country policing,” he said. “From day one, we have said policing in the country is different to policing in the city, and our approach to reviewing the organisation has recognised this.” Mr Worboys conceded each area in rural NSW has its own challenges and believes it is important to continue meeting with both the Local Area Commands and communities across the state.

“Communities will have a police force that is better equipped to proactively disrupt and prevent new and emerging crimes, as well as a larger pool of resources to draw upon,” he said. “At the end of this process, communities will see no change the current service delivery.”

Communities will have a police force that is better equipped to proactively disrupt and prevent new and emerging crimes, as well as a larger pool of resources to draw upon.

NSW Deputy Commissioner Regional Field Operations Gary Worboys

According to Mr Worboys there are no plans to close any police station or to pull back from a 24-hour response where there is one already in place, he also said they do not intend to divert police away from small communities. “I appreciate there is a degree of concern among officers, staff and the community, however consultation is an important process so we can develop a model that benefits police and the community and ensures confidence in local policing continues.”